Moonlight Gouramis

[Hackett60]

Hi,

I Have 2 Moonlight Gouramis, 1 of them has been laying eggs and now she is just staying in one corner of the tank and hardly eating. Is this normal or is there likely to be some thing wrong with her.

 

[sylvia]

What do you mean 'she's been laying eggs'? Do you have a pair? Did the male build a bubblenest? Did they spawn? Can you post a pic of her - are you sure it's a female and that she layed eggs?

How big is your tank and what else is in with your moonlight gouramies?

It isn't normal for her not to be eating unless you have the pair mixed up (ie: you think this one layed the eggs but this one's actualy the male guarding his nest). Alternatively, if the tank's too small and they spawned, I wouldn't be surprised if the male is confining her to that corner and not letting her eat.

 

[Hackett60]

The tank is 120 liters, she attached the eggs to a stone, there are some guppies, loaches and neons in the tank. I saw the eggs trialing from her.

What do you mean 'she's been laying eggs'? Do you have a pair? Did the male build a bubblenest? Did they spawn? Can you post a pic of her - are you sure it's a female and that she layed eggs?

How big is your tank and what else is in with your moonlight gouramies?

It isn't normal for her not to be eating unless you have the pair mixed up (ie: you think this one layed the eggs but this one's actualy the male guarding his nest). Alternatively, if the tank's too small and they spawned, I wouldn't be surprised if the male is confining her to that corner and not letting her eat.

The tank is 120 liters, she attached the eggs to a stone, there are some guppies, loaches and neons in the tank. I saw the eggs trialing from her.

What do you mean 'she's been laying eggs'? Do you have a pair? Did the male build a bubblenest? Did they spawn? Can you post a pic of her - are you sure it's a female and that she layed eggs?

How big is your tank and what else is in with your moonlight gouramies?

It isn't normal for her not to be eating unless you have the pair mixed up (ie: you think this one layed the eggs but this one's actualy the male guarding his nest). Alternatively, if the tank's too small and they spawned, I wouldn't be surprised if the male is confining her to that corner and not letting her eat.

 

[sylvia]

Are you sure your fish is a moonlight gourami?

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Do you have a pic of the fish? Gouramies do not breed in this way. Sounds worrying if she is a gourami.
Hugs,
P.

 

[Hackett60]

Are you sure your fish is a moonlight gourami?

Hi,

Sorry I do not have a picture although I am pritty sure that the fish is a moonlight gourami.

Thanks for your reply

 

[sylvia]

You must, in some manner, be mistaken. Are you sure what you saw were eggs? What color were they? You say she attached them to an ornament - what has happenned to them since (did they get eaten, become fuzzy, change color etc)?

Here's a picture of a moonlight gourami: http/www.angelfire.com/ma4/shawnamoonlight3/
Note the long feeler-like ventral fins. Does your fish have those?

While we're at it, look here: http/users.tkk.fi/~mputkone/aquarium/500L.html
Do you see those pink kissing gouramies? That's not your fish by any chance is it? Note they lack the 'feelers'. Ignore the color - kissers come in paler shades and a green morph, as well as that pink.

Just in case: http/www.gcca.net/fom/Archocentrus_nigrofasciatus.htm Could that be your fish? It wouldn't be the first time they were taken to be gouramies. While I'm suggesting it - does your fish go to the surface of the tank for air occasionaly? Where in the tank does she normaly spend most time - near the top or bottom? Is the fish usualy aggressive?

 

[Fizban]

lets see if i do this right a pic of my moonlight gourami will come up its not the best pic but it should give u a good idear http/i30.photobucket.com/albums/c331/jaz...82/fishh114.jpg

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Looks like a moonlight. I see you have a three spot in there with her. My 3 spots killed a moonlight by stressing her to death.
As for the 'eggs' Am confuzzled. Gourami won't lay eggs in that fashion at all. Makes me think she has something wrong with her. Is it possible she did a long stringy poo? White faeces is a sign of stress or infection.
Hugs,
P.

 

[sylvia]

Heh, don't panic yet Miss Dib Dabs (I nearly did the same), the last poster was Fizban who has three-spots and moonlights in a 60 gallons (I think that's the size) and who's fish have been getting along ok so far. The starter of this thread was StevenH.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Thank you for pointing that out Sylvia. Guess that just prooves I really should be in bed right now.
Hugs,
P.

 

[Fizban]

hmmm i did not mean to have confuzzled u Miss Dib Dabs i just thort maby anuther pic of a moonlight would help cuz i think that one of mine look alittle difrent from the pic that was given befor of them i think its probly the age .........as for the truble with StevenH gouramis i dont no much sylvia and miss Dib Dabs no alot so they should be able to help in some way but it sound like it would help if u found a way to get a pic of it

 

[Hackett60]

hmmm i did not mean to have confuzzled u Miss Dib Dabs i just thort maby anuther pic of a moonlight would help cuz i think that one of mine look alittle difrent from the pic that was given befor of them i think its probly the age .........as for the truble with StevenH gouramis i dont no much sylvia and miss Dib Dabs no alot so they should be able to help in some way but it sound like it would help if u found a way to get a pic of it

Hi,

I have been watching the gouramis for the past few days and it would appear that the larger fish is chasing the smaller one into the corner all of the time. Also as suggested the eggs are probably poos if she is not very well as she is not eating.

Please Help? What should I do.

 

[sylvia]

What size tank are these fish in?

Please post pictures so we can work out what's going on because it's realy difficult to say anything when you are simply assuming this fish is a female and when we can't see whether 'she' is gravid or not.

If 'she' isn't eating (is 'she' the 'smaller one' BTW?) 'she's' either extremely stressed from being bullied by the other gourami or ill.

Does 'she' have any red streaks or marks on ehr body or fins? Any sign of bloating or pineconing scales? try feeding some live foods - daphnia is a good choice - and feed some crushed peas to help (if they eat them) in case the problem is constipation.

It's typical of larger gouramies to chase smaller ones and, if the tank isn't large enough, it's typical for the victim to fall ill or even die. I would suggest returning one of the two to your LFS as it sounds, quite clearly, like they are not getting along.